Strawbridge and Clothier's Quarterly (Winter 1885 to 1886)

I purchased this Magazine through eBay. Unfortunately it was not cheap. It is in great shape though, with many awesome illustrations. I was excited about the variety of material in this "Quarterly" magazine, since a lot of it reads like a straight mail order catalogue. There are detailed descriptions of many styles and accessories for the winter of 1885/1886.

The styles depicted in the fashion plates include a very wide variety of late bustle era clothing and, surprisingly at least a little natural form stuff as well. I found this especially strange, since the other fashion magazines I have from this period are a bit more uniformly late bustle styles. I did appreciate all of the detail on accessories like handkerchiefs, fans, and jewelry, since this sort of information is kind of sparse in the other sources I have from the late bustle period.

The issue also came with a separate pattern sheet with several interesting patterns. I haven't yet figured out how to scan these, since they are definitely not going to fit on my poor little scanner. The main catalogue barely fit as it was!

The issue was made of lovely, heavy paper, which has aged beautifully. Sadly, this heavy paper made it completely impractical to fold the pages open wide enough to do the page scans without destroying the binding. I spent some time trying to figure out a way to handle the scans in a non-destructive manner, but in the end I had to give up and cut the binding off of the issue. I hated to do it, but it let me scan the issue relatively painlessly and without having the bent pages wad up until I would have run out of margin and started losing content!

This magazine cost me $112.15 including shipping. I'm not sure this was necessarily a good use of my money (since I could have gotten at least 5 Delineators for that price), but it is a beautiful and informative issue. It took me about 3 hours to scan it and another 3 hours to do all the image processing and build this page. If you enjoy the scans and feel inclined to tip me a dollar or two, I would be very grateful.

I've included both the 100 dpi and 300 dpi versions of the scans below. If you just want to read the magazine (rather than print it out) the smaller ones should work just fine. Currently the thumbnails link to the small version of each page.

I should warn you that since these pages filled my scanner bed they are a bit bigger in image size than some of my other scans. The large versions top out at about 2.5 MB and some of the smaller ones get up in the 200 KB range. If you have problems with the file sizes please let me know and I'll try to come up with an even smaller (but still legible) solution.

Download the individual pages (100 dpi and 300 dpi respectively):

• Cover page
  
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• Subscription reminder insert
  
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• Color Fashion Plate, "The Latest French Styles"
  
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• "The Heart of Amunuhet" fiction by Julian Hawthorne
  with inset illustration of a dahabeah!
  
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• "The Heart of Amunuhet" cont.
  with inset illustration of two people on a flight of steps leading down into darkness
  
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• "The Heart of Amunuhet" cont.
  
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• "The Heart of Amunuhet" cont.
  
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• "The Heart of Amunuhet" cont.
  with inset illustration of some sort of procession inside a carved Egyptian hall
  
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• The end of "The Heart of Amunuhet",
  "Crewel Painting",
  and "Church Chair Cushion" (with illustration)
  
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• "Church Chair Cushion" cont. with a large elaborate illustration
  
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• "The Latest French Styles" (description of color plate)
  and "Crochet Dresses for Children"
  
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• "Crochet Dresses for Children" cont.
  
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• The end of "Crochet Dresses for Children"
  and "Sofa Cushion" (with illustration)
  
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• Large illustration of the intricate beadwork for the "Sofa Cushion" article
  
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• "Fashion Gossip" describing the up coming styles and fabrics
  
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• A stunning wedding gown illustration with tiered ruffles
  
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• "Fashion Gossip" cont. with more lavish illustrations of winter clothing
  
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• "Fashion Gossip" cont. with several illustrations including a stunning use of stripes on skirts and revers.
  
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• "Fashion Gossip" cont. with several more lovely gowns
  
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• "Fashion Gossip" cont. with several mantles, two outdoor costumes, and an amazing asymetrical outfit
  
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• The end of "Fashion Gossip",
  the beginning of "Concerning Dinner",
  and two more beautiful gowns
  
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• The end of "Concerning Dinner",
  "Game of Solitaire",
  and an inset illustration of a young lady in an asymetrical jacket
  
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• "Weaving imitation Smyrna Rug" (with copius illustrations)
  and the beginning of "Cone and Shell Work"
  
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• The end of "Cone and Shell Work",
  "Modeling Raised Flowers",
  and "Mounting an Engraving"
  
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• "Dictionary of Stitches Used in Embroidery"
  (only part of the article, which was started in the Autumn issue)
  with illustrations for
  "Point Lance",
  "Point Natte",
  "Point Russe",
  "Rope Stitch",
  "Flat Satin, Overcast, Eyelet, and Backstitch",
  "Raised Satin Stitch",
  "Raised Satin",
  and "Raised Satin, Back, and Overcast"
  
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• "Dictionary of Stitches Used in Embroidery" cont.
  with illustrations for
  "Raised Satin" (x3),
  "Point De Plume",
  "Tete De Beuf",
  "Wheat Ear Stitch",
  and "Wheel Stitch"
  
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• The end of "Dictionary of Stitches Used in Embroidery",
  "Embroidered Chair Cover",
  "Watering Plants",
  a description for pretty ways to decorate a desk,
  "Chair with Embroidered Cover" illustration,
  and "Colored Embroidery for a Chair Cover" illustration
  
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• "Children's Parties" (an article describing children's costumes for parties!)
  with many illustrations of children's costumes including
  "Gipsy",
  "Pansy",
  "Jack and Jill",
  "Courtier of Charles I",
  and "Tyrolean"
  
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• "Children's Parties" cont.
  with many illustrations of children's costumes including
  "Little Bo-Peep",
  "Gendarme",
  "Scotch Lassie",
  "Russian",
  and an extremely scary "Clown"
  
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• The end of "Children's Parties"
  with many illustrations of children's costumes including
  "Baby Bunting",
  "Butterfly",
  "Goblin",
  "French Mayor",
  "Boulogne Fisher Girl",
  "Earl of Liecester",
  "Swiss Peasant",
  "Little Red Riding Hood",
  and "Forget Me-Not"...
  and the beginning of an article titled "Feather Beds"
  
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• "Description of Supplement Diagrams" including illustrations for
  "Vesta Mantle",
  "Ladies Chemise",
  and "Dress for a Girl of Then Years Old"
  
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• "Description of Supplement Diagrams" cont. including illustrations for
  "Ladies' Chemise",
  "Corsage Mathilde",
  "Dress for a Girl of Ten Years Old",
  and "Vista Mantle"
  
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• "What I Know About Raising Ducks"
  with accompanying illustration of "Aylesbury Ducks"
  
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• "What I Know About Raising Ducks" cont.
  with illustrations of
  "Rouen Ducks"
  and "Pekin Ducks"
  
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• The end of "What I Know About Raising Ducks"
  with "Cayuga Duck" illustration,
  "Painting on Gold Paper",
  and "Cork Mosaic Work" (with several illustrations)
  
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• "Waste-Paper Basket"
  (with detailed cross stitch pattern illustrated)
  and "Dressmaking At Home"
  
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• "Dressmaking At Home" cont.
  
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• The end of "Dressmaking At Home",
  "Gentlemen's Wrapper" (with illustration),
  and "Knitted Woolen Gloves" (with full pattern given)
  
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• "The Kitchen" with information on making
  Coffee (roasting, grinding, made in a bag, in an ordinary coffee-pot,
  french breakfast, dripped, and turkish),
  Bread (compressed yeast bread and baking powder bread)
  
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• Page 1 (of 4) of the sheet music for "Proposal Apropos"
  
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• Page 2 (of 4) of the sheet music for "Proposal Apropos"
  
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• Page 3 (of 4) of the sheet music for "Proposal Apropos"
  
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• Page 4 (of 4) of the sheet music for "Proposal Apropos"
  
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• A detailed illustration of the many departments that make Strawbridge and Clothier, Philadephia what it is "today" (I especially like the picture of the guy from the mail order department rushing around with his arms full of bolts of fabric :)
  
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• "Mail Order Department"
  (descriptions of how their mail orders work)
  
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• "Mail Order Department" cont. with details on
  "Cost of Postage"
  and "Linings"
  
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• "Dress Goods" including
  "Black Dress Goods",
  illustration "The New Material, Boucle Cloth",
  "Courtaud's Crapes",
  illustration of the cloth and veiled woman wearing it,
  "Cloth Department",
  and illustration of be-aproned weaver woman with powered loom
  
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• "Ladies' Jerseys" including
  no less than five ladies' jackets
  and one young lady's
  
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• "Art Needlework" including
  "Art Needlework Materials",
  various materials,
  and projects
  
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• "Art Needlework" cont.
  with an assortment of project kits
  
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• "Art Needlework" cont.
  with various kits including several lovely decorated baskets
  
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• "Linen Department" including
  several designs of towels, doyley's and table coverings
  
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• "Linen Department" cont.
  with several more towels and a doyley
  
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• "Linen Department" cont.
  with various illustrations of stunning table cloths
  
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• "Linen Department" cont.
  with still more towels, doyley's and table cloths
  
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• "Linen Department" cont.
  did the Victorians buy nothing but fancy towels and table cloths?!?
  
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• "Blankets" with illustrations of eight different blankets
  
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• "Piano, Organ, and Table Covers" including
  illustrations of 24 different beautifully patterned embroidered covers
  
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• "Boys' Clothing" with illustrations of many outfits
  
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• "Boys' Clothing" cont. with eight more outfits illustrated
  
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• "Boys' Shirt Waists" with nine separate waists illustrated
  
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• "Corset Department" with illustrations of several
  corsets, bustles, and dress forms
  
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• "Corset Department" cont. with illustrations
  and descriptions of 15 different models
  
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• "Corset Department" cont. with illustrations
  and descriptions of several braces, stocking supporters,
  a "dress form corset", and several bustles
  
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• "Shawl Department" with several shawl illustrations
  
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• "Shawl Department" cont. with illustrations of several ornate models
  
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• "Shawl Department" cont. with illustrations of still more ornate models
  
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• "Shawl Department" cont. with illustrations of even more ornate models
  
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• "Nottingham and Gupure Laces" with illustrations of eight wide, ornate laces
  
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• "Nottingham and Gupure Laces" cont. with illustrations of eight more wide, ornate laces
  
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• "Turcoman Curtains" with two full window treatments pictured and described
  
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• "Turcoman Curtains" cont. with a second two full window treatments pictured and described
  
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• "Lace Curtains" with four patterns illustrated and described
  
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• "Lace Curtains" cont. with four more patterns illustrated and described
  
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• "Lambrequins" (with two designs illustrated),
  "Lace Curtains" (other lace goods, upholstery fabrics,
  other upholstery goods, upholstery fringes, and window cornices),
  and "Smyrna Rugs"
  
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• "Men's Funishing Goods" with illustrations of
  four kinds of embroidered suspenders,
  smoking jackets, and shirts
  
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• "Men's Funishing Goods" cont. with illustrations of
  several "after-bathing" robes,
  shirts, and a pair of "Men's Jean Drawers"
  
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• "Men's Funishing Goods" cont. with illustrations of
  many different fancy scarfs and detachable collars
  
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• An illustration of twenty two different varieties of ornate "Scarf Pins"
  
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• "Men's Funishing Goods" cont. with illustrations of
  ten different "Sleeve Buttons",
  descriptions for the Scarf Pins and Sleeve Buttons,
  and "Rules for Shirt Measurement"
  
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• "Ladies' Muslin Underwear" with illustrations of nine different lacy night dresses
  
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• "Ladies' Muslin Underwear" cont. with illustrations of
  six chemises and three "walking skirts"
  
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• "Ladies' Muslin Underwear" cont. with illustrations of
  four corset covers and four pairs of drawers
  also "Pillow Shams" with illustrations of three fancy pillow shams
  
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• "Infants' Wear" with illustrations of various long and short dresses for infants
  
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• "Glove Department" with illustrations and descriptions of
  twenty two styles of ladies gloves
  
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• "Glove Department" cont. with illustrations and descriptions of
  nineteen styles of men's gloves and mittens
  as well as a pair of "Cashmere Wristlets"
  
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• "Glove Department" with illustrations and descriptions of
  eighteen styles of gloves and mittens
  also "Misses' Suits" with illustrations of two dresses
  
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• "Misses' Suits" cont. with illustrations of
  of seven misses' dresses
  
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• "Misses' Winter Wraps" with illustrations of six lovely styles
  
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• "Misses' Winter Wraps" cont. with illustrations of six more styles
  
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• "Men's Cardigan Jackets",
  "Men's Garters",
  and "Gossamer Waterproofs" (in various styles!)
  
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• "Ladies' Winter Wraps" with six detailed outfits
  
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• "Ladies' Winter Wraps" cont. with six more lovely outfits
  
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• "Ladies' Suits" with six stunning ensambles
  
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• A giant illustration showing over fourty styles of handkerchiefs
  
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• "Ladies Handkerchiefs" with illustrations of eight more styles
  
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• "Ladies Handkerchiefs" cont. with illustrations of twelve more styles
  
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• "Woven Underwear" (ladies' merino underwear, men's merino underwear, and men's silk underwear)
  
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• "Woven Underwear and Hosiery" (children's merino and wool underwear, Hosiery and ladies' hosiery)
  
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• "Hosiery" cont. and "Notions"
  
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• "Oxidized Clasps" with illustrations of eight pairs of delicate clasps
  
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• "Fan Department" with
  beautiful drawing of lady with parasol
  and six styles of fans illustrated
  
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• "Ladies' Purses and Pocket Books"
  with illustrations of twenty styles
  
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• Illustrations of 13 more styles of
  purses and pocket books
  
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• "Ladies' Purses and Pocket Books" cont.
  with illustrations of sixteen more styles
  
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• Illustrations and descriptions of an assortment of
  twelve ladies' skirts
  
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• "Umbrella Department" with
  illustrations of fifteen styles of ornate umbrella handles
  
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• An advertisement for
  "One Thousand Christmas Dress Patterns"
  
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• "Bubble of Mirth"
  (various hilarious jokes)
  and "Ills of Children"
  (with a discussion of "Compound Oxygen Literature")
  
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• "Window Gardening"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Kitchen Wisdom"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "All Over the House"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Health Hints"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Worth Knowing"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Odds and Ends"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Aids for the Toilet"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Fashion Chit-Chat"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Reasonable Recipes"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Poultry Scratchings"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Morsels from the Poets"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Household Hints"
  and various advertisments
  
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• "Announcement for 1886" on
  "The Ladies' Floral Cabinet" (a subscription service)
  
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• "Needlework Notions"
  and various advertisments
  
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• Inside of back cover with
  headlines from 14 newspapers
  
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• Back cover with illustration of
  Strawbridge and Clothiers' store
  at "Eight and Market Streets"
  
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